“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants

for Jesus' sake.”

     Joseph grew up in a small town in Ohio where he attended the West Union Christian Union Church, and is currently a member.  From two months old Joseph was in the church.  Learning the hymns and mesmerized by the messages of the Pastor or guest speaker, he would sit and listen attentively.  He was never interested in going to the children's church, but wanted to learn more about the Bible.  At the age of six he began to attend the adult Sunday School class, and would speak up often about the discussions taken place, often time quoting appropriate passages which would add to the issue(s).

     Joseph attended the Adams Country Christian School in West Union, Ohio until the ninth grade.  When he was in seventh grade he was permitted to attend the teachers Bible study every morning, thirty minutes before first period.  He enjoyed every minute of those studies.  He gave his first sermon at the school, and then became the school chaplain for two years.

     While studying at the high school, Joseph entered in Greenfield Bible College, and began to take seminary courses through correspondence.  He felt the call to preach the Gospel and desired to further his education in the Bible.  What he was learning at the high school was good, but he wanted more.  After taking several classes at Greenfield, Joseph went to Southern State Community College to complete high school, being enrolled in post secondary.

     Joseph is currently studying at Cincinnati Christian University and Seminary for a degree in the preaching ministry.  He has a strong desire for both Hebrew and Greek, the original languages of the Bible (excluding a few chapters of Aramaic).  Joseph believes the translations that we have today are wonderful, but what better way is there to study the Word of God then with the understanding of the original languages?  Hebrew is his favorite language, and finds it highly rewarding to learn both of these.

     Joseph has begun evangelizing to as many as will listen.  He has been making calls and sending out letters, emails, et cetera to attract more and more people to the Gospel of Christ.  “When people are baptized, they feel as though they can set the world on fire they are so excited about what God has done in their lives.  This should not just happen when one accepts Christ, but it should continue.  We need not to have a ‘form of godliness (2 Tim. 3:5)’ but  to continue to preach the Gospel and to ‘enter into his gates with praise (Ps. 100:4)’”

     On November 23, 2008, Joseph accepted his first church, Wamsley Christian Union.  Wamsley is a small town near Otway.  The church has been through many ups-and-downs, and forgotten by many.  The town has many people which, at one time attended the church and now attend nowhere.  There is much work to be done, and we are pressing onward, reaching out to everyone.